Table of ContentsFSIMS Home Preferences Publications MyFSIMS 3.0 Help and Training Searches Search Results Page
FSIMSIntroductionThe Flight Standards Information Management System (FSIMS) is a single-source, web-based, repository of policy and guidance available to all FAA employees. FSIMS allows you to:
All FSIMS pages are divided into three main sections:
TabsThere are five FSIMS tabs:
Left PanelThere are nine distinct areas in the Left Panel:
HomeIntroductionThe FSIMS Homepage is the normal starting point for use of the system. The one exception to this rule is that new users who have not yet set their Preferences are taken to the User Preferences page. The Homepage utilizes the tabs and left panel navigation elements found throughout FSIMS. The center panel of the Homepage contains four elements:
Recent Documents ListTo ensure that the information used is current, the FSIMS software automatically performs checks for recently added or changed documents. The Recent Document List, displayed in the center panel of your FSIMS Homepage, includes both new and modified items. The Recent Document List is filtered according to Preferences settings. The display can show all recent documents or only those matching the Job Category & Specialties information saved by the user. SortEach item on the Recent Document List contains three columns of information:
By default, FSIMS sorts the Recent Document List by Document #. The information can be re-sorted using either the Document Title column or the Issue/Rev column. To re-sort, simply click on the desired column's name or the chevron next to the column's name. FSIMS displays the current sort selection just above the Recent Documents List box. FiltersThe Recent Documents List can display either all documents in FSIMS or only those that match Job Category and Specialty selections. Go to the Recent Docs section of System Settings under the Preferences tab to indicate your choice. By default, FSIMS filters the Recent Document List to include those items that match your selection. If desired, you can temporarily toggle to the other view by simply clicking the All or Preferences found next to the phrase Change to: found just above the Recent Documents box on the right -hand side. To permanently change your display, go to Recent Docs in the System Settings section of Preferences. The active choice is always displayed just above the Recent Documents List box on the left-hand side. Save to MyFSIMSFSIMS makes it easy to include new or modified documents in your MyFSIMS mobile library. Each item on the Recent Document List has a checkbox to its left. To include documents in your MyFSIMS library, simply click the checkbox of each document you want to include and then click the Add Selected Docs to MyFSIMS button. The dialogue box for downloading documents to your MyFSIMS library will display. Document ViewerFSIMS displays documents in HyperText Markup Language (HTML) in the center panel. Each document has a bolded header at the top. The header information can include:
Several option buttons are located on the Document Viewer page. The buttons are:
PrintingFSIMS provides the PDF and MS Word buttons described above for safe and easy printing of documents. Each page of a document printed generated using these options will contain a special header and footer. The header displays the document title and issue/revision date. When available, the footer shows additional information about the document, including: " Volume " Chapter " Section " Page Number FSIMS places the following warning in the footer of each page printed using the PDF or MS Word button: UNCONTROLLED COPY WHEN DOWNLOADED PreferencesIntroductionThe FSIMS Preferences tab allows you to enter and save information about your Job Category & Specialties. It also allows you to specify preferences for other FSIMS functions. FSIMS uses this information to filter search results, select News Items, and to select the new documents that will appear in your Recent Documents list. Job Category & SpecialtiesYou can select one (and only one) of five Job Categories:
You can also select any or all of the following Specialties:
If you have not yet saved any preferences, FSIMS takes you to the User Preferences page each time you access the system. Once preferences are saved, FSIMS stores the selections on its server and retains them from one session to the next. You can update and change User Preferences by selecting the Preferences tab or the PREFERENCES link found in the left-hand panel of all FSIMS pages. TIP: You can easily determine your current User Preferences settings. They are displayed under the PREFERENCES link located in the in the left-hand panel. System SettingsSystem Settings, found on the User Preferences page, determine which documents will appear in the Recent Documents section of the FSIMS homepage. The default setting limits the Recent Documents list to show only those documents within selected Job Category/Specialties. You can change this setting so that the Recent Documents list will display all new or updated FSIMS documents. The System Settings section also allows you to request email notification when documents are added or updated. Again, you have the option to limit notifications to those documents within your Job Category/Specialty or to receive notification of all new or updated documents. PublicationsIntroductionSelecting the Publications tab displays a page that allows you to view lists of all the documents available in FSIMS. Each document has an associated Publication Index Card (PIC) maintained by the FSIMS Librarian. Publications are grouped into two basic categories:
Links to FSIMS handbooks and bulletins that are accessible to the public are available within the Public Docs area. Active PublicationsThe Active Publication List provides links to current regulatory guidance such as the E-Book, bulletins, Element Performance Inspection (EPI) data collection tools, and job training aids. The Active Publication List includes an Other Documents link that provides access to several categories of documents, including:
Inactive PublicationsThe Inactive Publications List provides links to earlier versions of documents such as Handbooks, Bulletins, Notices and Orders. The Inactive Publications Other link includes all of the inactive documents from the discontinued Policy Subsystem. These document types include Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS), Federal Aviation Acts, Handbooks, Legal Interpretations, Medical Guidelines, Policy Memoranda, and Preambles. FSIMS places a highly visible watermark on the Inactive Publication List page as a reminder that these documents are inactive. The watermark also appears on each and every page of an inactive document when it is viewed or printed Public DocsSome FSIMS documents are accessible to the public on web sites outside of FSIMS. These documents are shown on the Public Docs List. Examples of available information include Handbooks, Bulletins, and Notices. Selecting an item from the Public Docs List will open a pop-up window that contains (or leads to) the publication of interest. Expandable/Collapsible ListsEach of the lists above uses expandable/collapsible lists. Click the + sign next to a subject of interest and the view expands to show the next sub-level for that topic. This process continues until the individual document of interest is shown. Click the - sign next to an expanded list and it will collapse. Publication Index CardsThe FSIMS Librarian creates a Publication Index Card (PIC) for each document. The PIC contains information such as:
There are two ways to view a PIC:
MyFSIMSIntroductionMyFSIMS provides the ability to download documents to your laptop for use 'on the road' and whenever access to the AVS network is not available. Copies of the documents you choose are stored directly on your laptop or other device. The manner in which you search for and view documents is identical whether using FSIMS while connected to the AVS network or using MyFSIMS while off the network. Clicking the MyFSIMS tab displays three links that are discussed in detail below. They are:
Configure a MyFSIMS LibraryThe Configure MyFSIMS Library process allows you to add any document in FSIMS to a portable library for use in the field. You must be working on the AVS network to configure and save a MyFSIMS library. Selecting the Configure MyFSIMS link displays a listing of all of the categories of documents available in FSIMS. As selections are made, FSIMS displays the total number of documents selected, an estimate of disk space required to store the documents, and an estimate of the time required for the document download. The categories of available documents are:
Select DocumentsTwo boxes appear to the left of each category on the Configure MyFSIMS Library page. The left-most box is the controller for an expandable/collapsible list and contains either a plus sign or a minus sign. Click a plus sign and FSIMS rolls-out the next sub-level for that category. Click a minus sign and FSIMS collapses the list to that level. The other box is a Selection box. It is empty by default. Clicking in a Selection box selects all documents at or below that level or sub-level for inclusion in your MyFSIMS library. FSIMS places a checkmark in the box to indicate the selection. As you roll-out the expandable/collapsible list, selection checkboxes appear at each sub-level. Again, clicking in a selection box at any sub-level includes all documents at or below that sub-level. When only some documents within a category are selected, FSIMS shades the selection box gray. This is a visual cue that only a sub-set of the documents within that category are included in your FSIMS library. In addition to the controller and selection boxes, FSIMS also uses the folder icon and the document icon. When closed, the folder icon indicates that additional sub-levels are available. Closed folders are always accompanied by a plus sign in the expandable/collapsible list box. Click the folder or the plus sign and the folder changes to an open folder and the next sub-level of information appears. The document icon indicates that you are at the document level and no further sub-levels are available. Save buttons are located at the top and bottom of the Configure MyFSIMS Library page. Clicking one of the Save buttons causes the MyFSIMS configuration to be stored on the FSIMS server. A prompt then asks, "Would you like to Update MyFSIMS Library now?" If you answer yes (recommended), the Update process will begin and FSIMS downloads your selections. After configuring MyFSIMS, the software automatically will check to determine if any of the documents you have chosen require updating.
Update DocumentsAfter configuring MyFSIMS, the software automatically checks to see if any of the documents in your portable library need updating. You can also initiate the process by selecting the Update MyFSIMS Library link on the MyFSIMS page. If updates are available, the Update MyFSIMS Library window will open. This window provides the number of updates available and how long it has been since your last update. You can elect to get the updates immediately (running automatically in the background or manually in the foreground), or you can elect to postpone the update and schedule a reminder. Update in the BackgroundThis is the simplest way to synchronize a library. Click one button, the update runs behind the scenes, and you are free to do other work. With the Update MyFSIMS Library notification window displayed, leave the default Begin Processing and run in background radio button selected and click the "Get Updates Now" button. An FSIMS UPDATES icon appears on the Windows taskbar, indicating that the process is running. You can hover over the icon to see the progress of the update. Click the icon to see the Update MyFSIMS Library list window. This window contains detailed information about the number of documents and time remaining to complete the download. Update in the ForegroundSelect the Show me the details before starting radio button before clicking on the Get Updates Now button and FSIMS displays detailed information about the update so you can monitor its progress. The Update MyFSIMS Library list window appears. This window displays a list showing the name and number of each document to be updated. It also shows estimates of the amount of disk space and time required for the synchronization. The window indicates the current status of each document in the list:
You have the option to click on the Run in background (minimized) checkbox once the update has begun. FSIMS will minimize the Update MyFSIMS Library list window and place an FSIMS UPDATES icon on the Windows taskbar indicating the process is running. You can hover over the icon see the progress of the update. Click the icon to return to the UPDATE MYFSIMS Library list window. You can postpone an update at any point in the process. There are two ways to postpone updates:
Either way, FSIMS displays a dialog box where you can choose the length of time until a reminder prompts you to complete the update. There is a 30-day maximum on time limit on the reminder.
Open MyFSIMSThere are two ways to open MyFSIMS:
Help and TrainingFSIMS Quick Tour at eLMSThe FSIMS Quick Tour is an 8 minute audio-visual presentation that introduces all the major features of the FSIMS software. Start with the Quick Tour if you are new to FSIMS. Click the link below to go to the DOT electronic Learning Management System (eLMS) homepage. FSIMS Tutorial at eLMSThe FSIMS Tutorial consists of several lessons that you will complete in sequential order. Each lesson demonstrates an FSIMS activity and then guides you through the performance of the same actions. Click the link below to go the eLMS homepage. Bridging DocumentsBridging Documents gives you the ability to map information in the new E-Book to earlier versions of the Aviation Inspector handbooks 8300.10, 8400.10 and 8700.1, as well as Handbook Bulletins. Click the link below to access Bridging Documents. About FSIMSClick the link below to open a window containing the version number and release date of this version of the FSIMS software. SearchesIntroductionFSIMS provides five different ways to search for documents. Each of the search strategies is discussed in detail below, including step-by-step instructions to guide you through the use of each method. The six searches available are:
Quick SearchA Quick Search finds all active documents that contain the word or phrase entered in the text entry field. Quick Search is available in the left-hand panel of all FSIMS pages, except for the Advanced Search page. Quick Search is fast and easy to use. Simply enter a search word or phrase in the Quick Search text entry field and then click the Go button. You do not need any special characters (quotation marks, etc.) when entering a phrase. A list of all active documents matching your entry is displayed in the FSIMS viewer. Note that the Quick Search result is not limited by your User Preferences. The Quick Search text entry field accepts the wildcard characters " ? " and " * ". Click below to see examples of the use of wildcard characters.
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